Extension-bandage.



F. P. CORRIGAN. EXTENSION BANDAGE, APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. ms.

Patented June 11, 1918.

FRANK r. connIeAN, or CLEVELAND, oHIo.

EXTENSION-BANDAG-E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Application filed September 15, 1916. Serial No. 120,269.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. CORRIGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Extension-Band ages, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to surgi cal bandages and more particularly to an extension bandage adapted to be applied to fractures and dislocations and where the exertion of tension or a pulling force upon the limb inclosed is desired.

Bandages of this character have heretofore usually been constructed of adhesive tape, which is more or less difficult to remove when removal becomes necessary, and furthermore, this adhesive tape must be applied while the limb is under tension.

The object of my invention therefore is to provide an extension bandage which will do away with the use of adhesive tape and provide a device upon which tension is exerted after the bandage has been applied to the limb, the application of tension serving to extend or elongate the bandage and at the same time bind it tightly around the limb gripping it evenly at all points and exerting a constant pressure thereon so long as tension is maintained upon the bandage as a whole.

With this object in View and certain others which will become apparent as the description proceeds my invention consists essentially in providing a tubular expansible and contractible bandage composed of a plurality of flat strips braided together in such a manner that when the tubular bandage is distended or elongated its diameter as a whole will be uniformly contracted. The invention consists also in certain details hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claim. In the drawings forming.

part of this specification Figure l is an elevation of a surgical bandage constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 shows the application of such bandage to the leg; Fig. 3 shows the application of the bandage to the arm; and Fig. 4 shows a splint adapted for use in connection with this form of bandage.

In constructing the bandage in accordance with my invention I employ a plurality of flat strips of bandaging tape and in practice I have found four strips to provide a thoroughly practical and efliciont bandage. These strips are designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each strip is first folded over upon itself at an acute angle as indicated at 5 and then these folded strips are braided together in what is known as the basket-weave, and by arranging strips 1 and 2 opposite strips 3 and 4 and braiding all four strips together, a complete tube or sleeve is produced and the free ends of each strip are folded back as at 6 and tucked in, in order to provide a smooth finish at the end similar to the opposite end or starting point of the tube or sleeve.

These ends may be secured in any suitable manner to prevent unbraiding". In practice, I attach safety pins or clasps 7 to the opposite ends of the bandage these pins or clasps serving to hold the strips in their proper positions and also provide convenient points of attachment for the tension strips or cords 8 by means of which the proper tension or pulling force is applied to the bandage.

en it is desired to apply a bandage constructed as herein shown and described the bandage whole is contracted or pushed up to "itsf minimum length at which time it willbe of jits greatest diameter and can then be freel slipped over the limb to be eXtended. TheIi& by. means of pulling strips or cordsthebandage as a whole is extended or elong and at the same time contracted or fed in diameter, binding gens a whole firmly upon c hed and exerting a uniform pressure thereon so long as tension is applied to the bandage as a whole.

When the tension is relieved the bandage is moved back to its minin'mm length expanding the diameter of the same sufficiently to permit its ready removal. A tubular bandage made up as herein shown and described of flat strips lends itself readily to the use of splints in connection therewith and in Fig. 4 I have shown one form of splint 9 having laterally extending ends 10 which can be easily inserted into the braided sleeve or tube and hold the splint in place. The

advantages of the quick and easy manipula tion and application of an extension bandbandage composed of a plurality of strips w constructed as herein shown and debraided together, of a splinthaving lts ends saibecl will be apparent to everyone fainserted into said braided strips. 19 miliar with the use of surgical bandages. In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my Having thus described my invention, What signature. I claim is The combination with a tubular extension FRANK P. GORRIGAN.

00710: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, hy addressing the "Commissioner of ratents, wnshmgtdn, 1). cl" 

